Device for use with jacquard machine for selectively lifting warp yarns

ABSTRACT

A device for use with a Jacquard machine is disclosed which may eliminate the pattern cards, may be made compact in size, may find a wide application, and may considerably increase the weaving speed. In opposed relation with a plurality of needles is disposed a selection mechanism in which a plurality of solenoids equal in number to the needles are disposed in opposed relation with a plurality of armature members equal in number to the needles and interconnected therewith through wires. A control unit is adapted to selectively energize the solenoids depending upon the desired fabric patterns while the armature members are moved toward and made into contact with the solenoids in synchronism with the weaving operation of the power loom so that the selectively energized solenoids attract the armature members to hold their corresponding needles in position while the remaining needles corresponding to the de-energized solenoids are returned to their initial positions. The hooks corresponding to the needles returned to the initial positions are made into engagement with their corresponding knives in a knife box so that when the knife box is lifted, they are also lifted to lift the desired warp yarns, thereby forming a desired shed.

United States Patent ['19] Akami et al.

[451 Nov. 18,1975

[ DEVICE FOR USE WITH JACQUARD MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY LIFIING WARPYARNS [75] Inventors: Hitoshi Akami; Masaya Nakazima,

both of Yokohama; Masayoshi Katsumata, Machida, all of Japan [73]Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science &

Technology; Kayabakogyokabushikikaisha, both of Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed:July 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 484,949

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 3. 1973 Japan 48-75071 [52]US. Cl. 139/319 [51] Int. Cl. D03C 3/20 [58] Field of Search 139/55, 59,68, 317, 318,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 608,473 8/1898 McCrum139/319 727.023 5/1903 Szczepanik 1,017,063 2/1912 Regal 139/319 PrimaryExaminer-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Saul Jecies 57ABSTRACT A device for use with a Jacquard machine is disclosed which mayeliminate the pattern cards, may be made compact in size, may find awide application, and may considerably increase the weaving speed. Inopposed relation with a plurality of needles is disposed a selectionmechanism in which a plurality of solenoids equal in number to theneedles are disposed in opposed relation with a plurality of armaturemembers equal in number to the needles and interconnected therewiththrough wires. A control unit is adapted to selectively energize thesolenoids depending upon the desired fabric patterns while the armaturemembers are moved toward and made into contact with the solenoids insynchronism with the weaving operation of the power loom so that theselectively energized solenoids attract the armature members to holdtheir corresponding needles in position while the remaining needlescorresponding to the de-energized solenoids are returned to theirinitial positions. The hooks corresponding to the needles returned tothe initial positions are made into engagement with their correspondingknives in a knife box so that when the knife box is lifted, they arealso lifted to lift the desired warp yarns, thereby forming a desiredshed.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of33,920,053

US. Patent Nov. 18; 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,920,053

Sheet 3 of 3 0000000000 ooooooo V 0000 Nov. 18, 1975 U8. Patent DEVICEFOR USE WITH JAC UARDMA'CHINE FOR SELECTIVELY LIETINGWARP YARNS;-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION,

The present invention relates to a'devic e foruse with a Jacquardmachine for selectively lifting the warp yarns, thereby forming desiredsheds depending upon fabric patterns.

In general the conventional Jacquard machines use an endless tape ofpattern cards which are fed one by one to a cord cylinder in synchronismwith the shedding operation of a power loom so that the needles whichfind no corresponding punched holes in the pattern card are pushed so asto cause their corresponding hooks to be released from theircorresponding knivesin a knife box while the needles which find the.corresponding punched holes remain in the same positions with theircorrsponding hooks kept in engagement with their corresponding knives.Therefore when the knife box is lifted, only the hooks whosecorresponding needles remain in the same or initial positions are liftedso that only the desired warp yarns are lifted to form desired sheds.

However, the conventional Jacquard machines of the type described havemany defects. First of all, it is very time-consuming and expensive toprovide a large number of pattern cards for the desired fabric patterns.Secondly, special techniques are required to provide the pattern cards.Thirdly, the attachment of the pattern cardsupon the Jacquard machine,the detachment, the transportation, the storage, and the maintenance ofthe pattern cards are time-consuming and require much space. Fourthly,the pitches of the punched holes of the pattern cards and the loomingmethods are different from one machine to another, one production centerto another and one factory to another so that many pattern cardsdifferent in size and pitch of punched holes must be prepared even forweaving the fabrics with the same patterns.

Furthermore, as the living standard becomes higher, various highfashioned fabrics with various and complex patterns are produced, andthe fashion cycle is very short so that it becomes extremely difficultto predict what kind of fashions will be popular. Therefore it is nowimperative to weave the samples or products within a very limited time.That is, it is necessary to produce various types and kinds of fabricsin small lot within a short time in order to meet the rapidly changingmarket demands. Therefore there hasbeen a strong demand that the needlesin the Jacquard machines should be driven without the use of the patterncards. However, the conventional methods for driving the needles bysolenoids, cylinders and the like are not satisfactory in practicebecause of a very small pitch, for instance 4 to 5 mm. of the needles,and the mechanisms for selectively driving the needles are very complexin construction and expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the primary object of thepresent invention is to provide a device for use with a Jacquard machinefor selectively lifting the warp yarns which may eliminate the use ofthe conventional pattern cards, may be made compact in size, may besimple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, and mayconsiderably increase the weaving speed. i

Briefly stated, in accordance with the present invention, in opposedrelation with a plurality of needles of a Jacquard machine is disposedaselection mechanism in which a plurality of solenoids and a plurality ofarmature members, both equal in number to the needles, are disposed inopposed relation, respectively, and the armature members are connectedthrough wires to the needles, respectively. In synchronism with theshedding operation ofa power loom the solenoids and the armature membersare moved toward and made into contact with each other while theselected solenoids are energized by a control unit depending upon thedesired fabric patterns and hence the desired sheds. Therefore the hookscorresponding to the needles whose armature members are attracted by theenergized solenoids are disengaged from their corresponding knives in aknife box while the remaining hooks remain in engagement withtheircorresponding knives. When the'knife box is lifted, only theseremaining hooks are lifted so that the desired warp yarns are alsolifted, thus forming desired sheds.

The control unit is adapted to read out the fabric pattern informationpreviously recorded upon a punched tape or magnetic tape and toselectively energize the solenoids in the selection mechanism dependingupon the read out information. Thus the conventional pattern cards maybe completely eliminated.

Since the armature members are connected to the needles through thewires, there may be easily established one-to-one correspondence betweenthe needles and the solenoids even though the number of the needlesranges from to 2,000 with such a small pitch of 4 to 5 mm. Furthermoreeven the pitch of the needles changes in one machine to ano'ther,'onefactory to another, and one production center to another, one-toonecorrespondence between the needles and the solenoids may be easilyestablished, by adjusting the wires interconnecting between the needlesand the armature members.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the solenoids are soarranged that their connections to the control unit may be freelychanged so that the device in accordance with the present invention maybe used with any Jacquard machine with different numbers of needlesflnother words, thedevice in accordance with the present invention maycontrol any power looms with different loomings based upon the samefabric pattern information.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description ofone preferred embodiment thereoftaken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of aJacquard machine incorporating a device in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the device for selectivelylifting the warp yarns in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In' FIG. 1 is shown onepreferred embodiment of a Jacquard machine generally indicated by 10 andpro- 3 vided with a warp yarn selection mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention.

Like the conventional Jacquard machines, the warp yarns 11 are coupledto harness cords 16 extending from the lower ends of hooks 12 through abottom or hook plate 13 and guide reed 14. In a knife box 18, a springmember 17 formed integral with each of the hooks 12 is pressed againstthe rear side of a knife 19 for engagement with the adjacent hook 12 sothat a hooked portion 20 of the hook 12 may be normally made intoengagement with the corresponding knife 19. The knife box 18 is adaptedto be vertically displaced in synchronism with the weaving operation ofa power loom. A plurality of needles equal in number to the hooksslidably extend through a guide frame 21 and have their hooked portionsengaged with their corresponding hooks 12, respectively, so that whenthe needles 22 are displaced transversely to the right. thecorresponding hooks 12 are also displaced transversely to the right.Consequently. the hooked portions 20 of the hooks 12 are retracted tothe position where they do not engage with the corresponding knives 19when the knife box 18 is lifted.

A cord cylinder 24 which is disposed on the side of the left ends of theneedles 22 is drivingly coupled through a suitable linkage (not shown)to the power loom so that it may make one reciprocal movement in thetransverse direction in synchronism with the weaving operation of thepower loom as the knife box 18 is raised. The efore the selected hooks12 are lifted so that a shed required for a desired fabric pattern maybe formed as will be described in detail hereinafter.

ln the conventional Jacquard machines, in order to lift only theselected hooks. an endless belt of pattern cards are fed one by one tothe cord cylinder 24 in synchronism with the weaving operation of thepower loom so that when the cord cylinder 24 moves toward the needles 22the displacements of the needles may be controlled depending upon thepattern of the punched holes of the pattern card on the cord cylinder.Therefore only the selected hooks 12 may be lifted when the knife box 18is lifted. However according to the present invention the pattern cardsmay be eliminated and the cylinder 24 makes only the reciprocal movementin the transverse direction. A blind plate 25 is attached to the oneside surface of the cylinder 24 in opposed relation with the left endsof the needles 22 so that when the cylinder 24 moves to the right all ofthe needles 22 are pushed to the right and only the selected needles 22are held in the right positions by a selection mechanism 26 while theremaining needles 22 are returned to their initial or left positionsunder the force of the spring members 17 as the cylinder 24 returns toits initial or left positiOn. Therefore only the selected hooks l2engage with the corresponding knives l9 and are lifted as the knife box18 is lifted.

Next referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the selection mechanism generallyindicated by 26 will be described in detail hereinafter. A casing 27ofthe selection mechanism 26 is attacched to a main body 29 of the loomwith bolts and nuts 28. A guide rod 34 has its both ends fixed to themidpoints of right and left side plates 33 and 32 of the casing 27, andis slidably fitted into a bearing member 35 held by a bearing holder 31which in turn is attached to the center of a bracket disposed within thecasing 27. Therefore the bracket 30 may be slidably along the guide rod34 in the transverse direction as will be described in more detailhereinafter.

Upon the bracket 30 are attached a mounting plate 36 and two guideplates 37 and 38 in parallel to each other and in suitably spaced apartrelation. More particularly, the mounting plate 36 is located along theright side of the bracket 30; the guide plate 37, along the left side ofthe bracket 30 and the guide plate 38, closer to the mounting plate 38than the left guide plate 37. A plurality of armature members 39 equalin number to the needles 22 are slidably fitted into holes 40 formedthrough the mounting plate 38, and have their rear or left ends coupledto the corresponding needles 22 with wires 43 extending through guideholes 41 and 42 of the guide plates 37 and 38, respectively. Anadjusting member 44 is fitted over each of the connecting wires 43. Atleast the front or left end portion of each armature members 39 is madeof a magnetic material, and a spring 45 is fitted over the armaturemember 39 between its leading or left end and the mounting plate 36.

A threaded adjusting rod 46 is extended transversely to the left fromthe left guide plate 37, and is screwed into an adjusting nut 47attached to a'plate 49 so that the position of the bracket 30 relativeto the casing 27 may be adjusted by rotating the adjusting nut 47. Adriving rod 48 has its one or right end firmly fitted into the adjustingnut and its the other or left end made into contact with the blind plate25 of the cylinder 24 so that when the cylinder 24 is displaced to theright, the driving rod 48 and hence the bracket 30 may be displaced alsoto the right together with the needles 22.

A plurality of solenoids 50 equal in number to the armature members 39are mounted in opposedrelation therewith upon a mounting plate 52 whichin turn is attached to the right side plate 33 of the casing 27 withadjusting bolts and nuts 51 so that the spacing between the armaturemember 39 and the corresponding solenoid 50 may be suitably adjusted.

Upon the right side plate 33 is also attached a connection box generallyindicated by 53 with the adjusting bolts and nuts 51. The connection box53 comprises a main body section 54 and a cap or lid section 55 hingedto the main body section 54 with a hinge 56. When the cap or lid section55 is closed, it may be held in closed position by a clamp 57. A plug.59is electrically coupled through lead wires 58 to a coil 50a of eachsolenoid 50 extended through the rightside wall 33 of the casing 27and'the side or bottom plate of the main body section 54. The plugs 59are inserted into jacks 60 mounted upon a mounting plate 62 which inturn is attached to the main body section 54 with setscrews 61. Thesejacks 60 are electrically connected through lead wires 63 to connectors66 mounted upon a mounting plate 65 which in turn is attached withsetscrews 64 to the cover or lid section 55. The connectors 66 areelectrically connected through cables 67 to a control unit 68 (See FIG.1), which is adapted to energize the selected solenoids 50 in responseto the signals from a reader (not shown) for reading out the desiredfabric patterns.

Next the mode of operation of the warp yarn selection device inaccordance with the present invention will be described hereinafter. Thecylinder 24 which is drivingly coupled through the suitable mechanicallinkage to the power loom is displaced to the right so that its blindplate 25 pushesthe needles 22 and the driving shaft 48 to the right. Asthe needles 22 are displaced. their hooked portions 23 engage with thecorresponding hooks 12 to push them to the right so that the hookedportions 20 of the hooks 12 are moved away from their correspondingknives 19 in the knife box 18. The driving rod 48 pushes the bracket 30to the right so that the latter is displaced along the guide rod 34.Therefore both the needles 22 and their corresponding armature members39 are displaced to the right but their relative positions remainunchanged. In other words the tensions of the wires 43 interconnectingbetween the needles 22 and their corresponding armatures 39 remainunchanged. As the bracket 30 is dis placed to the right the armaturemembers 39 are made to contact their corresponding solenoids 50. Whenthe selected solenoids 50 are energized by the control unit 68, thecorresponding armature members 39 are kept attracted by the solenoids sothat the needles 22 which are connected through wires 43 to the attachedarmature members 39 are positively held in the right positions.

Even when the bracket 30 further moves to the right after the armaturemembers 39 have been made into contact with their correspondingsolenoids 50, the bracket 30 pushes the springs 45 fitted between themounting plate 36 and the armature members 39 while slacking theconnecting wires 43 so that the damages to any component parts may beprevented.

When the cylinder 24 is returned to its initial position, the needles 22except those connected to the armature members 39 attracted by theenergized solenoids 50 are also returned to their initial positionsunder the forces of the spring members 17 of the hooks 12. The bracket30 is also returned to its initial position under the forces of thespring members 45 and because the connecting wires 43 exert some pullingforces to the bracket 30 through the armature members 39. The hookedportions 20 of the hooks 12 corresponding to the needles 22 returned totheir initial positions are made into engagement with theircorresponding knives 19 in the knife box 18. i

As soon as the cylinder 24 is returned to its initial position the knifebox 18 is lifted so that the hooks 12 whose hooked portions 20 are inengagement with the knives 19 are lifted while the hooks 12corresponding to the needles 22 held in the right positions remain inthe initial position. Therefore only the hooks l2 corresponding to theneedles 22 returned to their initial positions lift the warp yarns 11through the harness cords 16 so that a desired shed may be formed.

Immediately before the knife box 18 reaches the upper end of its upperstroke, the energized solenoids 50 are deenergized so that the needles22 whose armature members 39 have been attracted by the energizedsolenoids 50 are returned to their initial positions under the forces ofthe spring members 17 until the knife box 18 is returned or lowered toits initial position. Thus one shedding step or operation is completed.

In like manner the shedding operations are cycled in synchronism withthe weaving operations of the power loom so that the fabric with desiredpatterns may be woven.

ln the instant embodiment, the needles 22 and the armature members 39have been described as being displaced to the right by the cylinder 24until the armature members 39 are made into contact with theircorresponding solenoids 50, but it is to be understood that thesolenoids are so arranged as to be displaced toward the armature membersin synchronism with the weaving operation of the power loom until theyare made into contact with their corresponding armature members and tobe returned to their initial positions with the selectively energizedsolenoids attracting their corresponding armature members, thusdisplacing the corresponding needles to the inoperative positions. thatis, the positions at which their corresponding hooks are not lifted whenthe knife box is lifted. Furthermore it is to be understood that variousmodifications can be effected without departing from the true spirits ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a Jacquard machine. having a power loom, adevice for-selectively lifting warp yarns, comprising a. a selectionmechanism disposed in opposed relation with a plurality of needles ofsaid Jacquard machine, said selection mechanism comprising a pluralityof armature members coupled through wire members to said plurality ofneedles. respectively,

a plurality of solenoids disposed in opposed relation with saidplurality of armature members. respectively, and

driving means coupled to said power loom and movable in response tooperation of said loom for causing said plurality of armature membersand said plurality of solenoids to move toward or away from each otherin synchronism with the weaving operation of said power loom; and

b. a control unit for energizing the solenoids selected in response tothe fabric pattern information so as to attract the armaturemembers,whereby the displacements of the needles coupled to the armature membersattracted by the energized solenoids may be controlled.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of armaturemembers of said selection mechanism are eleastically mounted with springmeans upon a bracket which is adapted to be displaced in synchronismwith the displacement of said plurality of needles by a cord cylinder ateach shedding operation of the power loom. V

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of needles arecoupled to said plurality of armature members, respectively, throughsaid wires and through means adapted to adjust the spacing between eachof the needles and its corresponding armature member.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of solenoidsare electrically connected through plugs and jacks to said control unitin such a manner that their electrical connections to said control unit

1. In a Jacquard machine, having a power loom, a device for selectivelylifting warp yarns, comprising a. a selection mechanism disposed inopposed relation with a plurality of needles of said Jacquard machine,said selection mechanism comprising a plurality of armature memberscoupled through wire members to said plurality of needles, respectively,a plurality of solenoids disposed in opposed relation with saidplurality of armature members, respectively, and driving means coupledto said power loom and movable in response to operation of said loom forcausing said plurality of armature members and said plurality Ofsolenoids to move toward or away from each other in synchronism with theweaving operation of said power loom; and b. a control unit forenergizing the solenoids selected in response to the fabric patterninformation so as to attract the armature members, whereby thedisplacements of the needles coupled to the armature members attractedby the energized solenoids may be controlled.
 2. A device as defined inclaim 1, wherein said plurality of armature members of said selectionmechanism are eleastically mounted with spring means upon a bracketwhich is adapted to be displaced in synchronism with the displacement ofsaid plurality of needles by a cord cylinder at each shedding operationof the power loom.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidplurality of needles are coupled to said plurality of armature members,respectively, through said wires and through means adapted to adjust thespacing between each of the needles and its corresponding armaturemember.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality ofsolenoids are electrically connected through plugs and jacks to saidcontrol unit in such a manner that their electrical connections to saidcontrol unit may be freely changed.